I am here with the staff and several board members of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, where we have been attending the nation’s premier annual conference of organizations and people dedicated to strengthening our communities and improving the lives of all Americans.

Attending these events is always an excellent way for us to discover what other states are doing to advance liberty and economic freedom.

Over the course of this past week, we have been able to meet experts in fields as varied as energy, housing and occupational licensing. The “best practice” policies we have been learning about here will help us address the economic and social challenges we all face in Hawaii — especially its high cost of living that has led so many of our families, friends and neighbors to leave the islands in search of lower costs and greater opportunities elsewhere.

We also have made many valuable personal contacts, and already are thinking about which national experts we can bring to Hawaii for future Grassroot Institute events, at which they can share with us their impressive and useful knowledge.

Of course, we also are here to share what we’ve accomplished in Hawaii. I’m glad to say that the Grassroot Institute has made quite an impression in the world of free market think tanks. Not only are we a nationally recognized authority on the federal Jones Act, but we are getting attention for our ability to influence policy in a so-called blue state.

We’ll be back in the Aloha State soon, refreshed, energetic, and happy to be out of the cold weather.

It isn’t perfect, but as I'm sure most of us agree, lucky we live Hawaii.